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Latest update: 3 December 2025
Sokcho is a coastal town in northeastern South Korea that most people only know as a base for Seoraksan National Park. And yes, that park is why you come to Sokcho, but since you’re there anyway, you might as well check out the town itself. Or at least try to check it out, because the rain really messes up my plans.
Sokcho for beach and greenery
Sokcho is a typical beach town. Lots of hotels, restaurants along the shoreline, and a giant Ferris wheel. Koreans love to vacation here. Because of the ocean, beach, and the nearby Seoraksan National Park. A great combination! If it’s dry…
I’m there during Chuseok (the Korean version of Thanksgiving), and pretty much everyone in South Korea has time off. Everyone goes out to visit friends and family or go on vacation. Sokcho is pretty busy, and hotels are significantly more expensive. And the vacationing Koreans, just like me, are dealing with the weather. It rains almost non-stop. So I spend a lot of time indoors and skip most of the sights.
Because of the mountains, you see… not the mountains
Sokcho has a beautiful location: with the Seoraksan mountains in the background, it should look spectacular. But because of the gray weather, my travel companion and I don’t really see those mountains at all. They’re there, somewhere behind that fog and those clouds that hang around the mountains. But for us, they remain mostly invisible.
If you visit Sokcho on a better day, you’ll have a much nicer view. But that’s travel too: you don’t always have perfect conditions.
Sokcho beach
Sokcho beach looks pretty sad when we arrive. Gray weather, rain, not exactly inviting.
But many Koreans are here to vacation. So they come to have a look anyway. What strikes me: Koreans go to the beach in groups and just stand there looking at the sea. In the Netherlands, we don’t do that. We go for walks on the beach in this type of weather. A few brave souls don’t care and sit down in beach chairs on the sand. Badass.
When it clears up a few hours later, it immediately looks a lot friendlier. The Ferris wheel spins in circles, kids run in circles.
New to me: there are sand blowers along the beach. So instead of rinsing your feet to get the sand off, you blow it off here.
Seoraksan National Park: hiking
The main reason people come to Sokcho is Seoraksan National Park. And rightfully so. The park is about a half-hour from the center and is really worth a visit. We go there on a rainy day, and even though it’s gray and wet, we still have a good time.
Want to know more about hiking in Seoraksan? I’ve written a complete article about it, including all the hiking routes, practical tips, and what you can expect. Read everything about Seoraksan in South Korea.
What I missed (but you shouldn’t!)
Because of the bad weather and short time, we skipped a lot of things. These are the highlights that other travelers recommend:
- Jungang Market: the central market with fresh fish, dried squid, and local dishes
- Abai Village: North Korean fishing village accessible by hand-operated ferry. Founded by refugees during the Korean War and famous for K-drama Autumn in My Heart
- Yeonggeumjeong Pavilion: a pavilion by the sea for sunrise and sunset, near Sokcho Beach
- Cheongcho Lake and Yeongnangho Lake: two lakes for a peaceful walk. Yeongnangho has views of Ulsanbawi Rock (in clear weather) and cherry blossoms in spring
Coffee time in Sokcho
Well, with all the rain, it’s basically coffee time all day in Sokcho. And luckily, there’s no shortage of coffee cafés.
Café ONE FINE DAY: coffee with a jelly bunny
We drink coffee at Café ONE FINE DAY with panoramic views over the sea and even a rooftop terrace. The rain keeps us from going upstairs, but it’s nice inside too. And the coffee is good. They serve coffee with a jelly bunny here. Okay, that’s not the official name, but the name fits. This Bunny Pudding is a Korean dessert, a kind of pudding in the shape of a bunny.
Bossa Nova: coffee with treats
We have breakfast at Bossa Nova, a large building with multiple floors. There’s even a separate room if you want to have coffee with your dog. Bossa Nova has its own bakery, so this is also the perfect place to grab breakfast. They have everything: from croissants to pancakes, and especially lots of sweet breads and pastries.
Food tips in Sokcho
Restaurants in Sokcho don’t look cozy and inviting. Usually I look for restaurants with good reviews on Google Maps, but since Naver is used in South Korea, it’s quite a challenge to find a good place to eat. Some restaurants aren’t even on Google Maps. So we take a chance.
Tapgol Makguksu: cold noodle soup
We try noodle soup at a local spot, Tapgol Makguksu. Coziness: -3. Surprise: +7. Because it’s cold noodle soup. That wasn’t exactly the plan, but oh well. Turns out makguksu is also the name of the cold noodle dish, but hey, we’re Korean food rookies, haha. Anyway, it’s made from buckwheat flour. You can add water yourself to adjust the taste. We immediately pour in all the water, but then see others pouring way less. Oops, learned something new. It’s pretty tasty though, but a bit too watery – which is our own fault.
Jogae Sanghoe: Korean BBQ with shellfish and cheese
Okay, did someone say cheese? I’m in. In the evening, we go to Jogae Sanghoe for Korean BBQ with shellfish, seafood, and cheese. Getting a table isn’t that easy. People are even sitting outside in the cold and rain, that’s how popular it is. Apparently, you can make online reservations on the spot. But we can’t figure it out. Meanwhile, pretty much all the people waiting who came after us are already eating. Luckily, someone in line notices and makes sure the servers see us, and we get a table.
There’s one thing to order: a tier stand with clams, shrimp, two snails (that we can’t get out of their shells), and a kind of pasta made from noodles and shellfish. And then you cook it yourself at the table. Aprons on and let’s barbecue.
Urbanstay: contactless stay in Sokcho
We stay at Urbanstay, a completely contactless hotel. And by completely, I mean really completely: from luggage storage to check-in, everything is done through a system. It takes some getting used to at the entrance, because there seem to be multiple hotels in one building. But once inside, I find it actually pretty smartly arranged.
The room is small and long, but very cleverly laid out. There’s even a washing machine, which is very welcome after a few days of traveling through South Korea. No luxury, but everything you need: a comfortable bed, a couch to chill on, and a kitchenette to prepare something simple and make a cup of tea.
Book through Booking or Trip. The latter usually works out cheaper for me in South Korea.
From Seoul to Sokcho: the bus journey
The journey from Seoul to Sokcho officially takes 2.5 hours. Officially. We end up sitting on the bus for 4.5 hours because it’s jam-packed on the road, and it rains the whole trip. We bought tickets through Klook.
You depart from the Express Bus Terminal in Seoul. And let me warn you right now: that terminal is big. Really big. It’s quite a search to find the right bus. So make sure you’re there early.
Tip! During Chuseok, you really need to book buses and trains well in advance because all of South Korea is on the move.
From Sokcho to Gangneung
On our last day in Sokcho, we take the bus to Gangneung. And here too, it almost goes wrong: there are two bus stations in Sokcho. With just 12 minutes left on the clock, we quickly grab a taxi, and we just make the bus. About an hour and fifteen minutes later, we’re in Gangneung. We also booked this bus online in advance, through this website.
Be smarter than me, and check carefully which bus station your bus departs from!
FAQ about Sokcho
If you’re mainly coming for Seoraksan park, I’d recommend two nights in Sokcho. When you arrive, you can take a walk around Sokcho, and the next day you go to the park. On the third day, you can move on to the next place in the morning.
If you have good weather, you might want to add a beach day.
Take bus 7 or 7-1 from Sokcho center. The ride takes about half an hour. Going with a rental car is also an option, as there’s a large parking lot.
More South Korea inspiration
Useful links for your South Korea trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com, but compare prices. Trip is often much cheaper in South Korea. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You can book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour and cool food tours at Secret Food Tours.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Check out your options at Expedia and CheapOair for example.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo. Use the code THISIS8469 for a discount.
- Train and bus. Buy your train tickets directly on the Korail site and intercity buses also directly via this site. Some trips can also be booked on
Klook or via12Go . For local transport in the city, you use a T-Money card.
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